Stations with post boxes on station property.

[styles]

There’s a list of postboxes online at the railway codes website here:

Post boxes at UK railway stations

UK railway stations with post boxes in them

www.railwaycodes.org.uk

This is a good list.

I have one query though - there are a fair few on that list which say something along the lines of 'not serviced by Royal Mail', yet there's a photo attached to them of a postbox which hasn't been closed up. Does that mean staff at the station are somehow handling the mail? e.g. https://www.flickr.com/photos/maxgamble/52027390656/

I've never really given it much thought, but I'd assume anybody posting mail into what appears to be a bona fide Royal Mail postbox would expect their post to be handled solely by Royal Mail?

 

[dk1]

There was an extra charge - even recalling posting a letter onto the "Haughley Mail" at Ipswich ! (that was in the last century)

Okay but that didn't last. First Class letters where accepted on the TPO posting box up until the end.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I've never really given it much thought, but I'd assume anybody posting mail into what appears to be a bona fide Royal Mail postbox would expect their post to be handled solely by Royal Mail?

Does it perhaps mean that someone on the station (the pic is at Kidderminster on the Severn Valley Railway heritage railway) with a postbox key is tasked with emptying the station postbox, before then re-posting them in a nearby actual Royal Mail postbox, hopefully before the last collection time? Similar to what I think still happens in a number of upmarket hotel reception areas.

 

[reb0118]

Pillar Box on Platform Two at Stirling.

 

[dk1]

Wonderful postbox on Ely station with a knitted hare on the top.

 

[styles]

Does it perhaps mean that someone on the station (the pic is at Kidderminster on the Severn Valley Railway heritage railway) with a postbox key is tasked with emptying the station postbox, before then re-posting them in a nearby actual Royal Mail postbox, hopefully before the last collection time? Similar to what I think still happens in a number of upmarket hotel reception areas.

Quite possibly.

I think the difference as a customer is if I hand something to reception at a hotel or concierge to handle, I accept the risk of them interfering before it reaches Royal Mail, or less cynically merely forgetting to post it. If I saw a Royal Mail postbox at a railway station I'd assume the only people who would have access to my mail would be Royal Mail (well, the police etc in emergencies obviously). I'm not actually that paranoid but do wonder if the general public realises this.

Be interested to know from anyone who works at these stations (which appear to mainly/all be 'heritage' railways) what the actual process is!